Why Speech Therapy Is Beneficial for Children With Autism
Our success, both within our personal lives and in the professional realm, is often dictated by how we are able to communicate with those around us. After all, so much of our time is dedicated to social interaction and interpersonal relationships, even during the pandemic when the majority of these interactions occurred behind the screen.
However, for children with autism and related disorders,
developing effective communication skills is harder than it would be for the
average neurotypical person. In fact, it’s estimated that 40% of people with
autism are nonverbal – with many others finding verbal or face-to-face
communication difficult (AutismSpeaks)
While no two people experience autism in the same way, those
with autism or related disorders may face communication barriers such as:
·
Difficulty developing language skills.
·
Difficulty regarding comprehension or
understanding what others are saying or why they might be saying it.
·
Poor understanding of non-verbal communication
skills, such as body language, facial expressions, or gestures.
·
Inability to maintain eye contact during
conversation.
·
Difficulty with self-expression.
However, there are various steps you can take to help your
child with autism find their voice – with one of the most effective methods
being therapy services such as speech
therapy Clinic in RI.
What is
Speech Therapy?
Speech Therapy has a long and well-documented history and rose
to prominence in the early 19th century. While it is an effective tool for
those with autism and related disorders, it is also used to support children
and adults with learning difficulties, language disorders, and those who
experience hearing loss (amongst others).
During the typical speech therapy session, participants will
work alongside a licensed therapist to develop a wide range of communication
skills that will enable them to thrive in any environment.
These services often help children with autism and related disorders
in all aspects of their life. For example, they may find it easier to
communicate with their peers and develop better interpersonal relationships as
a result. They can also help ready teens for entering the professional world.
However (and perhaps most importantly), speech therapy can help children with
autism, and related disorders discover the benefits of self-expression. When
they can communicate more effectively, they’ll be able to let others know when
they are unhappy and why – which could reduce the chances of them dealing with
meltdowns or emotional outbursts.
What
skills are developed in Speech Therapy?
Again, the nature of the speech therapy support will
vary depending on the individual in question. However, these sessions often
include:
·
Learning how to better understand and approach
certain emotions. For example, learning how facial expressions express both
positive and negative feelings and how we can respond to these non-verbal cues.
·
Learning how to attribute meaning and nuance to
non-verbal signs of communication. For example, children may be asked to match
facial expressions, gestures, or body language to specific phrases or sayings.
This is sometimes achieved through the use of Social Stories. This technique
will help children recognize these social cues moving forward to better respond
to these situations.
·
Learning how to modulate tone of voice to convey
emotions. This technique can also be used to understand speech patterns and
nuances in conversation, such as sarcasm.
·
Working on making clearer speech sounds or even
developing muscles in the mouth or jaw to facilitate this.
·
Encouraging children with autism or related
disorders to expand their communication skills so that they can discuss a wide
range of topics aside from their special interests.
·
Working on general social skills and
understanding when it is their turn to contribute to a conversation or when
communication is expected of them.
At Alee behavioral
Healthcare, we provide children with autism and their families with a
range of therapy services – including speech therapy, Applied Behavioral
Analysis, and home-based therapeutic services. Get in touch to find out more!
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